Commentary

Leave enduring legacy to Air Force

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — In the 19 years I’ve served in the Air Force, I’ve contemplated the quality of the Airman we enlist on numerous occasions.

I’m not saying the entire enlisted force is going down the drain, because it isn’t.

In fact, I feel the quality of our Airmen has actually risen. They are smarter, in many aspects, than we older guys were when we joined. I have personally led a myriad of them that are truly outstanding.

Many of those who were failing didn’t know they were not meeting expectations and there were also many who were failing because they weren’t challenged.

Regardless of whether your Airmen are fast burners or ones that need a lot of guidance, leaders need to find a way to carve out five to 10 minutes daily to talk with each of them. Senior enlisted leaders also need to make time to talk with the officers lead our Airmen. As we know, we don’t enter the Air Force as a master of our careers. It takes time and attention from our leadership to get us to that point.

Without that attention, most will flounder.

Those in leadership positions have an endless list of things-to-do at the beginning of each day. We have everything from Task Management Tool deadlines, reviewing emails that came in after we left the day prior and last-minute, hot requests. With all the tasks on our “To-Do” list, we often find ourselves bogged down in busy work and forget we need to be leaders first. If we strive each day to have those five minutes with each Airman, it will make a huge difference to the overall force.

These brief conversations can be as simple as asking them how their day is going or how their family is. This sincere talk may not seem like mentoring, but it goes a long way in building trust and understanding your Airmen personally. The formal conversations over upcoming PT Tests and CBT training can come later, but establishing and maintaining rapport makes hard discussions — the dreaded midterm feedback — easier to deal with when the time comes.

We don’t need to coddle them and befriend through these conversations, but understanding their backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, what makes them tick, and what can challenge them to the next level is necessary to be an effective mentor.

With a thorough understanding of your Airmen, you will have a better understanding of how to guide them.

By not challenging your Airmen out of their comfort zones, they will inevitably reach a career plateau. Challenging them may be construed as “tough love,” but those Airmen who take the challenge will be pushed to new horizons. A great majority — about 98 percent of those you will supervise in your career will respond well to this type of mentoring. This extra attention and constant feedback and motivation will help them discover their strengths, weaknesses and show them they can be successful on their own — they will truly surprise you.

Our present generation of Airmen is amazing. They simply need your daily guidance to help them thrive in today’s Air Force and become the next generation of Air Force leaders. Once it is your time to leave the Air Force, whether it is through retirement or separation, if you know you helped the 98 percent, two percent or the 100 percent, you will leave an enduring legacy of leadership and success for the next generation of leaders.

Local Military Discounts

Pentagon Channel

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — During World War II, aviation opportunities literally exploded as the military trained hundreds of thousands of individuals to fly, opening the door to many who might never have had the chance before. Among this group were women pilots, many of whom trained and flew as civil service pilots with...

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. — As we recognize Women’s History Month this March, I am struck by the thought that heroes and role models do not have to be one single person but, in fact, can be several people. For me, this truth is especially relevant. During World War II, many women opted to...

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — The Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat unit integrated into Red Flag 15-2 to partner with exercise participants here, March 2 through 13. JEPAC partners with all branches of the U.S. military and the combatant commands to identify joint electromagnetic spectrum capability gaps and vulnerabilities. Additionally, JEPAC supports the...

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho — How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? Have you been hitting the gym like you wanted to, modified your diet, or restocked your dietary supplement shelf? Before you throw some more money at protein shakes, diet pills and energy drinks, I encourage you to research the products you’re buying...

NEW LONDON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.C., — ‘Train like we fight’ and ‘do more with less’ are mottos echoing the walls of countless conference rooms across the Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force daily — and for good reason. U.S. military missions continue to expand while concurrently trying to balance shrinking budgets and...

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Have you ever called for a medical appointment and been frustrated because you couldn’t get in at the time and date you desired? Have you ever wondered why you are advised to utilize the 99th MDG emergency room or offered a telephone consult also known as “T-con”? So have...

Information

Publisher

The Bullseye is published by Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Contents of the Bullseye are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.

Disclaimer

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and Review of the products or services advertised.